Mud patch working trowel

ABSTRACT

A tool is shaped for working a mud patch in a shower enclosure. The tool has front and rear edges with sections angled relative to each other to allow easily contacting angled edges of the walls of the shower enclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tool such as a trowel, for working a mudpatch, for example, in a shower to ensure that a proper slope from wallsmaking up the enclosure of the shower towards a generally centrallylocated drain.

BACKGROUND

In working a mud patch during construction of a shower, it is desirableto ensure that the mud patch slopes properly from a location at thewalls of the shower toward a generally central location where a drain islocated. As will be appreciated, such showers include walls at angleswith respect to each other and it is necessary to ensure that the mudpatch be maintained at the same level at the w all while sloping at apredetermined slope downwardly toward a centrally located drain. This isoften difficult to do with conventional trowels typically made up of arectangular main body with a handle thereon.

FIG. 10 hereof clearly illustrates the difficulty of using aconventional trowel 51 around corners 43 in a shower enclosure in whichit is desired to work the mud patch 41 appropriately.

SUMMARY

This invention relates to a tool, for example, a trowel, for working apatch of mud, and particularly relates to a tool having angled edges toallow working of the mud, for example, in a shower enclosure, such thatthe mud is maintained at a uniform thickness at the edges of the showerand at corners making up the edges of the shower.

In accordance with the invention, a tool such as a trowel is providedfor working a patch of mud in a partially enclosed area for creating amore uniform slope out of the corners of the partially enclosed area.The tool includes a body having a left side edge and a right side edge,and a front edge and a rear edge. The left side edge is longer than theright side edge. The front edge has a first front edge portion whichextends perpendicular to the left side edge, and a second front edgeportion angled relative to the perpendicular first front edge portion,and extending to terminate at a front end of the right edge. The rearedge has a first rear edge portion thereof which extends perpendicularto the left side edge, and a second rear edge portion angled relative tothe perpendicular first rear edge portion, and extending to terminate ata rear end of the fight edge. Through this configuration, it is possibleto work a stud patch and maintain a uniform thickness and slope from theedges of a shower enclosure, including corners making up the enclosure.The tool includes a top surface and a bottom surface, with a handleextending from the top surface to allow grasping of the handle forworking the mud with the tool.

Other features will become apparent upon a reading of the followingdescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will become betterunderstood from the following detailed discussion made with reference tothe appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the tool;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the tool;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the tool;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the tool;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the tool;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the tool;

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the tool;

FIG. 8 is a left side view of the tool;

Each of FIGS. 9a, 9b, and 9c comprise a view (collectively, three views)showing how the tool of the invention can be used to work a mud patchand ensure uniform thickness at the corner of a shower enclosure whilemaintaining a proper slope down towards the shower drain; and

FIG. 10 is an illustration showing how a prior art trowel ofconventional rectangular construction is used to work a mud patch, withdifficulty when used at the corners of a shower enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

Having generally described the invention, the same will become betterunderstood from the following detailed description of an exemplaryembodiment thereof made with reference to the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the tool of the invention(typically referred to as a trowel). The tool 11 includes a main body 13with a handle 15 attached to the main body 13.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the tool 11 of the invention alsoshowing the main body 13 and handle 15 attached thereto.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the tool 11. The main body 13 includes a leftside edge 17 and a tight side edge 19, and a front edge 25 and a rearedge 27, The front edge 25 includes two sections, i.e., a first frontedge portion 23 which extends perpendicular to the left side edge 17 anda second front edge portion 25 which extends at an angle A relative tothe first front perpendicular edge portion 23. The second front edgeportion 25 terminates at a front end of the right side edge 19. At therear edge 27, the left side edge 17 terminates at a first rear edgeportion 29 which is perpendicular to the left side edge 17. The firstrear edge portion 29 extends and is connected to a second rear edgeportion 31 at an angle B. As will be appreciated, to allow flexibilitywhen using the tool 11, the angle A is slightly greater than angle B,both being at approximately a 45 degree angle.

FIG. 4 shows the bottom 35 of the tool 11 in accordance with theinvention, more specifically, the bottom 35 of main body 13.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show front views and rear views of the tool 11 of theinvention.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show right side and left side views of the tool 11 of theinvention as described herein.

FIGS. 9a, 9b, and 9c each illustrate how the tool 11 of the inventioncan be used cork a mud patch 41 along edges 43 of walls making up ashower enclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates how a conventional trowel 51 of rectangular shape isused to work a mud patch 41 and illustrates the deficiencies andinability to work carefully along the edges 43 of the walls to ensureuniform spreading of a mud patch 41.

Having thus described the invention, it will be broadly described in theappended claims in which it is set forth in a non-limiting manner.

1. A tool for working a patch of mud in a partially enclosed area forcreating a more uniform slope extending from the corners of thepartially enclosed area, comprising: a) a body having a left side edgeand a right side edge, and a front edge and rear edge; b) said left sideedge being longer than said right side edge; and c) said front edgehaving a first front edge portion thereof extending perpendicular tosaid left side edge and a second front edge portion angled relative tosaid perpendicular front edge portion and extending to terminate at afront end of said right angle; and d) said rear edge having a first rearedge portion thereof extend perpendicular to said left side edge and asecond rear edge portion angled relative to said perpendicular firstrear edge portion, and extending to terminate at a rear end of saidright edge.
 2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said body comprises a fiatplate.
 3. The tool of claim 1, wherein said body comprises a bottomsurface and a top surface and a handle connected to and extendingupwardly from said top surface.
 4. The tool of claim 2, wherein saidbody comprises a bottom surface and a top surface and a handle connectedto and extending upwardly from said top surface.
 5. The tool of claim 1,wherein the perpendicular first front edge portion is shorter than thefirst rear edge portion.
 6. The tool of claim 5, wherein the secondfront edge portion extends toward said front end of right edge at anangle, relative to the perpendicular first front edge portion than theangle at which the second rear portion extends to the right edge rearend relative to the perpendicular first rear edge portion.